In 3 exhibitions and a program of accompanying events

"Exhibition 421" celebrates the lives of ordinary people and issues of identity

• Panels that monitor the human relationship with the public spaces around him.

  Photography: Eric Arazas.

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Simple life, identity questions and issues that it raises may be the common factor that imposes its presence in three art galleries that were inaugurated yesterday evening at the headquarters of "Gallery 421" in the port area in Abu Dhabi, which are: «Port Zayed Gallery: Reflections on A Past Future », and the« Float »exhibition, which presents the works of the artist and filmmaker, Stephanie Kumilang, and the third edition of the exhibition« 100/100, the best hundred Arab posters », and the accompanying exhibitions of a general program for the audience that includes dialogue sessions provided by the participating artists.

Despite the independence that each of the three exhibitions carries, and the difference in the media and artistic methods used by the artists in the implementation of their works, the visitor finds himself facing a comprehensive idea, which looks like a huge umbrella under which different visions and perspectives gather, and is represented in monitoring the lives of simple workers from Different nationalities, such as vendors, drivers, and domestic workers, in an attempt to track the daily life of these people, present different aspects of this life that the visitor of the exhibition may not have known before, and search for their personal identities, as well as what their presence gives them to the identity of cities and places, in addition to addressing By documenting the lives of these simple people, for various social, cultural and economic issues, such as urban development, globalization, identity and others.

Zayed Port

The exhibition "Port Zayed: Reflections on a past future" carries its visitor on a journey filled with nostalgia for years gone by, in which the image of the region was established as a commercial and entertainment center, when Port Zayed was a bustling market, and a destination for families and families to buy their requirements of vegetables, fruits, fish, household appliances and various commodities. In addition to its public spaces, a games center and a children's playroom, visiting the place was a popular excursion for adults and children at the same time. The exhibition seeks to present historical, anthropological and architectural documentation of Mina Zayed through the works of 11 artists, in partnership and cooperation with «Gulf Photo Plus», These artists are: Augustin Paredes, Sandra Zarnishan, Aisha Al Nuaimi, Fatima Al Fardan, Catherine Donaldson, Lara Rodard, Latifa Al Mazrouei, Lina Kassisieh, Mansour Al-Hira, Maryam Al-Huraiz, and Muzna Al Mazrouei, where each artist intended to express his vision of the Port Zayed area according to his own style What gave the exhibition a great deal of diversity and richness, so Catherine Donaldson chose to collect simple things that were among the remnants of the port market, such as old business cards, shop cleaning tools, and chairs that were placed on the fronts of these

E. Shops, boxes of storing fruits and vegetables, and other items that no one should pay attention to, to make her artistic work "Museum of Ordinary Things".

While the artist Aisha Al-Nuaimi relied on this waste as well, but to raise questions about the consumerism of individuals, and what it adds to them, and urges the recipient to question the fate of what he owns.

Consumerism

Criticism of consumerism also came in the work of the artist Maryam Al-Hariz, but this time it was based on criticizing the culture of weddings and the great exaggerations it contained in appearances and consumption, and in many cases without the bride having a say in organizing the wedding, and she used in her work fabrics and things that were in a warehouse Store wedding decorations, to create scenes inspired by still life paintings.

On the other hand, the artist Fatima Al-Fardan set out in her work, entitled "We dance asynchronously on the same stage", from a self-motivation by exploring the memories and beliefs of her childhood, and embodying them in a group of photographs of herself and her family members, to start from this self-glance to the creation Conversations with the environment, places, society and family.

While the artist Muzna Al Mazrouei tended to monitor the human relationship with the public spaces around him, by photographing an abandoned space and how it transformed into a busy and life arena when workers used it as a cricket stadium.

"Come, O Heaven."

The exhibition «Float» by the artist and director Stephanie Kumilang, under the supervision of the curator, Mortada Valle, is not far from the simple and their lives, feelings and dreams. The exhibition includes two new films by Kuomelang, residing in Berlin, through which she presents stories about Filipino workers abroad, combining them between Documentary style and glimpses of science fiction.

In "Come to Me, Heaven" (2016), she follows three Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong on their day off, as they meet with their peers in the city center to participate in caring practices, entertainment and community relations, to enjoy even temporarily living in a city that relies on their daily efforts. Not visible.

Focusing on the attempts of these expatriates to rapprochement between them, in a way that helps reduce the distance between them and the homeland, and calms the pain of separation from relatives, culture, land and language.

In filming the film, the director used a drone called "Paradise" that seemed to float on top of them to delve into the details of their personalities and their lives.

Kumilang's other film is entitled "Diaspora to the Stars" (2020), which depicts the plight of Filipino sailors isolated far from their countries as a result of the epidemic, alone, without aim, and unable to communicate with their families, since despite their proximity to their country, they are unable to Return.

This film depicts the depression and isolation that envelops the lives of all expatriates, for whom the homeland remains the embodiment of a lost paradise.

«100 Arabic Posters»

As for the third exhibition, it is held this year in a different way, as "Gallery 421" displays one of the winning posters in the 2020 edition of the "Best Hundred Arabic Posters" competition, on the front of the place, over a period of 100 days, to celebrate these innovative and distinguished works, It provides an overview of the various approaches that are being pursued in Arab visual communication today around the world, as well as shed light on the original work of some of the region's most talented artists and poster designers.

On March 23, the jury for this session will discuss the importance of designing posters as an effective medium for public communication, and stimulating dialogue about the role, shapes, content and artistic methods of posters.

ovation

With the start of the implementation of plans to re-use the region, the exhibition "Port Zayed: Reflections on a past future" celebrates what Port Zayed was in the past, what it might be in the future, and what it is now, and explores and honors the life and livelihoods that the port supports to this day And those who may soon find that their surroundings have changed completely.

• Despite the independence of each exhibition, the visitor finds himself faced with a comprehensive idea that appears like a huge umbrella.

• «Port Zayed: Reflections on a past future» takes his visitor on a journey filled with nostalgia for years gone by.

• One of the «Best 100 Arabic Posters» displayed on the front of the place for 100 days.

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